Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation

Prospective Programmes of Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer In 2012

The Fifth Meeting of IOR-ARC RCSTT Advisory Council

Prepaired by The Director Dr. Mahmoud Molanejad IOR-ARC RCSTT

Approved by IOR-ARC RCSTT Advisory Council October 26, 2011

Review of the work programme defined and implemented by

The IOR-ARC Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer

Inauguration of RCSTT "Realizing that in the current Century, the IOR-ARC Member States must increasingly promote the establishment of intelligent enterprises, based on continuous learning and the development of new technologies such as Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Microelectronics, Informative Science and New Materials, etc. for which there is a greater need for the strengthening and modernization of R & D institutions and universities for the development of both academic and scientific skills and Being aware, The IOR-ARC Member States hereby confirm their intent for the establishment of a "IOR-ARC Regional Center for Science and Technology Transfer" for the IOR-ARC region, to be hosted by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran." And reminding that "The IOR-ARC, with the support of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, intends to establish the Center and will therefore assume responsibility for the Center, its research and programme agenda, its staffing, and its operation and administration in compliance with the Fundamental Principles of the IOR-ARC Charter. The Center will be operated under the authority of the IOR-ARC Council of Ministers."

The IOR-ARC Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) was established on 28 October 2008 pursuant to the recommendation of Academic Group of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), approved in the 7th meeting of the IOR-ARC Council of Ministers, held on 7-8 March, 2007 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of IRAN, and MOU signed dated 23 June 2008 between Islamic Republic of Iran and the IOR-ARC Secretariat.

Major Activities of the Centre

As per the above MOU, one of the significant objectives of this Center is to plan on human resources development for the Member States. Thus, IOR-ARC RCSTT tried to organize short-term training courses, workshops and conferences in order to achieve the above goal of enhancing cooperation among the Member States and dialogue partners for the purpose of improving technology capacities of private and governmental sectors in areas such as nanotechnology, medicinal plants, microelectronics, renewable energies and biotechnology. IOR-ARC RCSTT has already managed to contribute in the following events and tried its best to provide all necessary conditions and facilities for inspiring the Member States and dialogue partners to introduce their nominees for taking part in the events.

A. Implemented Programmes
The list of the organized workshops, meetings and exhibitions are as follows: International Exhibition of Research and Education, Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran 7-11 July, 2011 Workshop on Global Change and its impact on technology transfer and commercialization Workshop on ICT and Community e-Centres Development For Poverty Reduction and Business Services Promotion Among the OIC countries and IOR-ARC Region , 2011 Regional Innovation and Inventions Exhibition 2011 International Research and Education Exhibition 2011 3

Announcement of training course on "Geo-informatics for Coastal Disaster

Management" Nov 14-18, 2011 , Chennai-India B. Uncovered Programmes from last year Regional Technology Exhibition 1. Considering the significance of organizing technical, scientific and specialized exhibitions to showcase the scientific and technological capacities of different Member Countries and accelerating the transfer and commercialization of technology in the region, the Regional Center for Science and Technology Transfer (IOR-ARC RCSTT) in pursuance of the First Regional Biotech 2010 hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, intends to inspire the other countries in region to host the Biotech Exhibition 2011 so that it provides more interaction among the technologists and entrepreneurs of the region. To do this, during the above event, IOR-ARC RCSTT made some promising negotiations with the foreign participants especially from India and South Africa for taking the initial steps. 2. Since India is considered as one of the strong members of IOR-ARC region, IORARC RCSTT suggested the authorities of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (which took part in the Regional Biotech Exhibition) to host the Biotechnology Exhibition / Workshop in the next year 2011, incorporated into Asia Biotech or Bangalore Biotech both organized by India where IOR-ARC RCSTT would bring the companies and/or R & D centers to attend the event. Moreover, it was suggested that I-Tech-India Programme may financially support this event. It is proposed that same events for 2012 will be facilitated for participants of IOR-ARC region with special sponsorship by the respective Indian government.

3. IOR-ARC RCSTT has also proposed to the representative from South Africa to inspire the Ministry of Science and Technology of South Africa to invite and support the IOR-ARC Member States to participate in "BIO2BIZ SA" with special financial support, considering the fact that it is going to be held by the Biotechnology Innovation Centre in South Africa every year. We are looking forward to receive the final approval for this programme. Training Programmes 4. According to the negotiations done between the Director of the IOR-ARC RCSTT, with the Director of Indian I-TEC Programme, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of India, they undertook the sponsorship of a few joint projects / programmes with this centre. In addition a short list of programmes was recently proposed to I-TEC for joint implementation, as follows: o o o o o Decentralised Energy Solutions Planning & Implementation International Training Programme on Bio-e Energy Business Development Services Providers for Micro Enterprise & Micro Finances Next generation of network technologies and future trends Climate Change & Sustainability 5. It is proposed that the International Engineering and Technology Fund is to be hosted by Confederation of Indian Industries it might be also used for IOR-ARC region for presenting their technology developments by Member States, also ITEC sponsors the participating countries and IOR-ARC RCSTT bring the potential participants.

6. Regional Experts Exhibitions and Training on Desalination of Brackish, Sea Water and Wastewater Treatment, 14-16 Feb 2012 To organize "Regional Experts meeting and Training on Desalination of Brackish, SeaWater and Wastewater Treatment 14-16, 2012 is another programme of the Centre. This event will be organized by IOR-ARC RCSTT, Iranian Research Organization for Science, Research and Technology (IROST) and sponsored by IDB, COMSTECH and TWAS.

C. Proposed New Programmes

Establishment of Regional Networks 1. Establishment of several specialized Networks for IOR Region in cooperation with the regional organizations like WHO, COLOMBO plan and UNAPCTT, etc. which was discussed during the various "Regional Experts Meetings which have been arranged by the Center. The above meetings were attended by several IORARC Member States and their representatives who contributed in the basic discussion for initiating such networks including: Traditional Medicine Network, (IORTMNET) Food Technology Network Global Environmental Changes through the Application of Remote Sensing Network Advance Technology, Development & innovation Organization Network ICT and Community e-Centres Development Network The objective of regional network to develop governmental and private sector joint programmes and regional IOR-ARC standards and regulation

Training Programmes

2. Expert meeting on interchanging technological information and enhancement of oceanic technologies for improvement of the oceanic SME' s enterprises in the IOR-ARC region, 26 - 29 February, 2012 3. Global Change and its impact on technology transfer and commercialization 4. Training Course for Accreditation Bodies 27 February 1 March 2012 5. Workshop on IP application for technology transfer and commercialization 6. Biotechnology Exhibition 2012, IRAN-Tehran 7. Regional Innovation and Inventions Exhibition 2012, IRAN-Tehran 8. Proposed IOR-ARC regional meeting of R&D institutions for developing regional network and cooperation mechanisms Conferences 1. First International Conference on Rural Development , Experiences and future plans in local Development, 14 16 Feb, 2012 2.

D. Current Proposals of Member States Programmes

The different proposals were received from the IOR-ARC Member States including the Sultanate of Oman, Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius for cooperation with the Centre. However, the Sultanate of Oman has announced its preparedness with due to host the following events: IOR-ARC Workshop on Environmental Pollution and Waste Minimization, 5-6 March 2012 International Symposium on Biotechnology and Conservation of Species, coordinated by the Sultan Qaboos University, 10-12 February 2013, Further, Sultanate of Oman has indicated its willingness to cooperate with RCSTT and other Member States in the following areas:

Nanotechnology in Environmental Green Chemistry Environmental Biotechnology The Republic of Mauritius provided the Centre with its suggestion for cooperation on the following fields:

- Energy, sustainability and mitigation of climate change in SIDS; - Biotechnology and Bioinformatics; Sri Lanka also had shown interest in cooperation with the Centre through its Director General/Economic Affairs of the Ministry of External Affairs about organizing an international conference/exhibition in Ayurveda which is planned to be held in Colombo. It is expected that the participants will be provided hospitality.

E. Possible Member Countries Cooperation

It is proposed that some of the Member States with higher potential host and sponsor few programmes in cooperation with this Centre annually; Malaysia may undertake three programmes, South Africa two, Indonesia two, Kenya one, Singapore two, Sri Lanka one, Thailand one, UAE two, Oman two programmes and India as suggested above. This issue may be recommended by the Council of Ministers. More details should be explored for implementing above suggestions.

Conclusion
In conclusion, IOR-ARC RCSTT has already organized some workshops and expert meetings and also a regional exhibition it intends to plan and organize more programmes as mentioned above. In this regard, we seek the cooperation of the esteemed Member States by for example hosting some regional activities for the Centre and the Ambassadors' initiative in this connection would be very important and obviously will pave the way for enhancing the regional cooperation among the Member States on the one side and IOR-ARC RCSTT on the other side.